July 23, 2008
            
                 Government, security improvements lead to drop in violence 
            
            
                
                WASHINGTON (July 23, 2008) – As violence levels maintain a steady decrease across Iraq, coalition forces and the Iraqi government are able to focus their efforts on reconstruction and civil issues, a senior Coalition military official in Iraq said Wednesday. 
Iraqi forces are improved, and the government continues to develop and progress, Army Brig. Gen. David Perkins, a Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman, said in a news briefing from Baghdad.